NAPW Inducts Jan Blaser Upchurch, Victim Services Administrator at the AZ Department of Corrections and Volunteer, Into its VIP Professional Woman of the Year Circle
Garden City, NY (PRWEB) May 19, 2015 -- The National Association of Professional Women (NAPW) honors Jan Blaser-Upchurch as a 2015-2016 inductee into its VIP Professional Woman of the Year Circle. She is recognized with this prestigious distinction for leadership in victim advocacy. NAPW is the nation's leading networking organization exclusively for professional women, boasting more than 700,000 members and over 200 operating Local Chapters.
“I am the Victim Services Administrator at the AZ Department of Corrections,” said Ms. Blaser-Upchurch. “I also volunteer and am an Executive Board Member for the AZ Peace Officers Memorial Charity and President of Concerns of Police Survivors, Arizona Chapter.”
The constant among all of her roles is victim advocacy, something Ms. Blaser-Upchurch has been passionate about ever since the death of her police officer husband, who was killed by a drunk driver. “Since my husband was killed in the line of duty, I have been active in assisting crime victims,” she said. “His death changed the direction of my life.”
Ms. Blaser-Upchurch’s tireless work with crime victims and survivors at the AZ Department of Corrections includes assisting them with information about restitution, inmates’ release dates and orders of protection. “I also attend parole hearings and do all I can to help victims,” she said.
Recently selected by the Phoenix Business Journal as one of 40 Outstanding Business Women, Ms. Blaser-Upchurch is the recipient of numerous recognitions for her work on behalf of crime victims, including the FBI Community Service Award; AZ Attorney General's Distinguished Leadership Award; Southern AZ DUI Task Force Special Recognition Award; Crime Prevention Council of Tucson, An Every Day Hero Award; AZ Trial Lawyers Association's Exemplary Community Service Award; Allstate Insurance Safety Leadership Award for Dedicated Community Service and MADD's Dr. Andy Nichols Achievement Award.
Ms. Blaser-Upchurch continually strives to help implement important changes to laws that benefit victims, provide more outreach and develop better communication between law enforcement and victims. “Reaching out to those affected by crime, helping them to move on from victim to survivor is always a goal,” she said. “I will continue to provide resources, to educate victims about their rights and to provide them with the comfort they need.”
Chelsea Mulligan, NAPW 2, +1 (516) 453-6132, [email protected]
Share this article